Device for supporting and stretching bed-comfortables



(No Model.)

R. T. PALMER, Jr. & F. W. MERGER. DEVIGE FOR SUPPORTING AND STRBTOHINGIBED GOMFORTABLES.

No. 604,414. Patented May 24, 1898;

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REUBEN T. PALMER, JR., AND FREDERIC W. MERCER, OF NE\V LONDON,

- CONNECTICUT.

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AND STRETC'HING BED-COMFORTABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,414, dated May 24, 1898.

Application filed April 24, 1896. Renewed October 18, 1897. Serial No. 655,623. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, REUBEN T. PALMER, Jr., and FREDERIO W. MERCER, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city and county of New London, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Supporting and Stretching Bed-Oomfortables During the Operation of Quilt-ing, which improvements are fully set forth and described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide a device of simple construction upon which a bed-comfortable may be readilystretched and supported during the operation of quilting.

Said device, briefly described, consists of a framework bearing adjustable clamps that grasp the fabric at its sides and ends and stretch and support the same while being quilted.

To assist in the explanation of our invention, the accompanying sheet of drawings has been provided, illustrating the same as follows:

Figure 1 is a plan view of our device, showing the manner in which it operates to accomplish the end for which it is designed. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a portion thereof; and Figs. 3, 4:, and 5 are detail views of certain elements of our said device, Fig. 4 being an enlarged sectional view taken on line X X of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the letter a denotes a rectangular framework constructed, preferably, of ironpipe and provided with legs or posts b located at its corners or at points a.

To stretch the quilt upon the frame a, two styles of clamps are preferablyemployed, serving, respectively, to hold the ends and sides of said quilt. Two of the first-named clamps are preferably employed to grasp the quilt at each end, said clamps consisting of a tube that is'slightly less in length than the width of frame a. Said tube is split longitudinally throughout its length, excepting fora short portion near each end, thus forming two semicircular tube-seotions, the shorter of which is denoted byreference-letter band is hinged at d to the companion section b. Secured to on studs e, the position of said buttons being largely determined by the thickness of the fabric to be clamped by the device. The edge of said fabric is placed between sections 19 and b, the former section having been previously rocked back, so that the fabric may be entered, after which said section b is closed and locked by means of the buttons f. To support the clamps 1) upon frame a, certain blocks 9 are secured to said frame by means of bolts h, which blocks are providedwith pockets it, one of said blocks being provided to receive each end of the clamped section 1). Bolt h of each block 9 lies in a slot a and thus means of adjustment is provided for the two clamps b, so that quilts of varying lengths may be accommodated. The second-named clamps, provided to grasp and stretch the sides of the quilt, are also secured to frame a and several of such clamps are located at frequent intervals on opposite sides of said frame. Each clamp consists of a body portion m and a shank n, that is slotted, as at a, said body portion being substantially rectangular in plan view and through the same is out an opening m, within which is hinged a semi-oval jaw 0 by means of a pin 0 and also an arm p, hinged therein on a pin 3. Arm p enters a slot 0 in jaw o and is provided with shoulders p which, when said arm is rockedinto a substantially vertical position, ride like a cam upon the periphery of the semi-oval jaw 0 to bind the free end of the latter upon the body portion m of the clamp, and thus clamp the fabric a between said free end and the body portion m. Slot 0 near the hinged end of jaw 0, is enlarged sufficiently, as at 0 to permit the shoulders 19' of arm 13 to pass therethrough after said arm is rocked into the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 5 to open the jaw. The shank n of the clamp is secured to frame a by means of a bolt 2%, said shank being entered in a slot 01 in frame Ct. It will thus be seen that by reason of the means of adjustment thus provided the clamp may be readily regulated to accommodate quilts of varying widths.

When it is desired to utilize our device, the clamps b, b, and m are first properly located 011 frame a to accommodate the fabric to be quilted, which latter is first secured in clamps b b, as described, and then to the clamps m, the two sets of clamps then serving to stretch and support the fabric in position for quilting.

Our invention as a Whole is very simple in its construction and may be more quickly ably secured to said side pieces intermediate 0 the blocks, substantially as set forth.

REUBEN T. PALMER, J R. FREDERIC W. MERCER. WVitnesses:

FRANK H. ALLEN, MAY F. RITCHIE. 

